12-08-2008, 01:27 PM
in response to Jerry's post, this is a description of what I put out before. There is a drawing and will see if I can get it up.
+++
A new route linking Hilo and Puna
A new highway, like Highway 130, with unrestricted access does not present a practical option for enhancing mobility choices. Such a highway through HPP is not needed and is not desirable.
Any new motor vehicle road from Keonepoko to South Hilo must have restricted access to preclude sprawl, and be multi-modal to reduce predominance of low occupancy vehicles.
The US Department of Transportation encourages and funds ‘flexible design’ and ‘context sensitive design.’ This means, for example, that lane and shoulder widths can be narrower than those observable on Highway 130.
The ‘Park’ community
The possibility of a Puna makai route across Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) has raised community concerns regarding road width, and the speed of cars and trucks traveling through residential areas.
Multiple, narrower routes across HPP – for example, on 25th, 15th, and 5th – rather than a single full-width corridor going through HPP, would avoid concentrating traffic on one street.
A large portion of traffic that now congests Highway 130 originates in HPP; this traffic would be redirected to a route between HPP and Hilo thus reducing congestion on Highway 130.
Parkway concept
The parkway outside of HPP, from Macadamia Road to HPP north and from HPP south to Keonepoko, would accommodate two lanes in each direction for cars and motorcycles, and one lane for buses.
As a matter of practicality, Ala Puna Makai would align with streets (25th, 15th, and 5th) in HPP where land is zoned and designated for community/village center use (recreation, education, commercial, light industry).
The parkway would be narrower because trucks are excluded so that wider lanes and shoulders are not required..
Restricted access between Keonepoko and HPP south and between HPP north and Macadamia Road would preclude the many driveways and other indicators of sprawl now observable along Highway 130.
Parkway application
Car and motorcycle traffic would enter HPP at 5th when north bound and at 25th when south bound.
A large amount of car and motorcycle traffic entering HPP from the parkway would have destinations within HPP.
Car and motorcycle traffic traversing HPP could enter HPP from the parkway; proceed along respective north- or southbound streets and then exit HPP onto the parkway again.
A busway would enter/exit HPP at 15th (see description of busway below).
Hwy 11 and Hwy 130
Highways 130 and 11 now link commercial areas along two routes: Pahoa-Keaau-Hilo and Pahoa-Keaau-Volcano.
A scenic parkway from Puna to Hilo, via HPP, would not link these commercial areas.
Redirecting non-truck traffic to an alternate route (i.e., the Parkway) obviates the need for widening Highway 130.
Truck traffic would continue to enter HPP from Highway 130 for local residential deliveries and to serve commercial development within HPP.
Busway
A guided busway provides the operating features of grade-separated rail systems using lower-cost, more flexible bus-transit technologies, and allows the passenger to use just one mode of transport for an entire trip.
Where busways have been used, the result has been increased bus ridership, reduced delays to buses, reduced peak bus journey times and reduced peak traffic flows.
A guided busway has off-road fixed tracks, consisting of concrete troughs. Buses travel along a concrete track and can enter and exit normal roads and the busway at multiple points. Small wheels are fitted near the front of the bus. These wheels run along guides on either side of the track, with the effect of assisting steering of the bus.
A single-lane busway allows bus traffic in both directions at the same time, with buses passing at designated locations (e.g., HPP).
Scenic Parkway (Ala Puna Makai)
Features
1. Macadamia Road to HPP north and HPP south to Keonepoko
2. Restricted access (Keonepoko, HPP south, HPP north, Macadamia Road)
3. Scenic, with context-sensitive design, green infrastructure, green buffers, etc.
4. Multi-modal (cars and motorcycles; buses)
5. Align at 25th, 15th, and 5th in HPP
6.Multiple (#8804;45mph) routes across HPP
7. Two lanes each way for licensed passenger motor vehicles (cars and motorcycles)
8. North bound car and motorcycle traffic enter/exit HPP at 5th
9. South bound car and motorcycle traffic enter/exit HPP at 25th
10. Single-lane busway aligned at HPP 15th
Functions
1.Provide an alternate route between Puna and Hilo
2.Relieve a major portion of Highway 130 congestion: daily, non-truck, peak traffic from HPP.
3.Provide adequate capacity for daily, non-truck, peak traffic between Keonepoko and South Hilo.
4.Disperse traffic in HPP.
5.Align with areas in HPP designated for village center use (recreation, education, commerce, light industry).
6.Serve as an emergency evacuation route from Keonepoko and HPP.
7.Establish public transit as a viable mobility choice for daily peak and non-peak travel between Hilo and Puna.
8.Complement a proposed bikeway/walkway along Railroad Avenue.
9.Contribute to green infrastructure.
10.Preclude sprawl.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park
+++
A new route linking Hilo and Puna
A new highway, like Highway 130, with unrestricted access does not present a practical option for enhancing mobility choices. Such a highway through HPP is not needed and is not desirable.
Any new motor vehicle road from Keonepoko to South Hilo must have restricted access to preclude sprawl, and be multi-modal to reduce predominance of low occupancy vehicles.
The US Department of Transportation encourages and funds ‘flexible design’ and ‘context sensitive design.’ This means, for example, that lane and shoulder widths can be narrower than those observable on Highway 130.
The ‘Park’ community
The possibility of a Puna makai route across Hawaiian Paradise Park (HPP) has raised community concerns regarding road width, and the speed of cars and trucks traveling through residential areas.
Multiple, narrower routes across HPP – for example, on 25th, 15th, and 5th – rather than a single full-width corridor going through HPP, would avoid concentrating traffic on one street.
A large portion of traffic that now congests Highway 130 originates in HPP; this traffic would be redirected to a route between HPP and Hilo thus reducing congestion on Highway 130.
Parkway concept
The parkway outside of HPP, from Macadamia Road to HPP north and from HPP south to Keonepoko, would accommodate two lanes in each direction for cars and motorcycles, and one lane for buses.
As a matter of practicality, Ala Puna Makai would align with streets (25th, 15th, and 5th) in HPP where land is zoned and designated for community/village center use (recreation, education, commercial, light industry).
The parkway would be narrower because trucks are excluded so that wider lanes and shoulders are not required..
Restricted access between Keonepoko and HPP south and between HPP north and Macadamia Road would preclude the many driveways and other indicators of sprawl now observable along Highway 130.
Parkway application
Car and motorcycle traffic would enter HPP at 5th when north bound and at 25th when south bound.
A large amount of car and motorcycle traffic entering HPP from the parkway would have destinations within HPP.
Car and motorcycle traffic traversing HPP could enter HPP from the parkway; proceed along respective north- or southbound streets and then exit HPP onto the parkway again.
A busway would enter/exit HPP at 15th (see description of busway below).
Hwy 11 and Hwy 130
Highways 130 and 11 now link commercial areas along two routes: Pahoa-Keaau-Hilo and Pahoa-Keaau-Volcano.
A scenic parkway from Puna to Hilo, via HPP, would not link these commercial areas.
Redirecting non-truck traffic to an alternate route (i.e., the Parkway) obviates the need for widening Highway 130.
Truck traffic would continue to enter HPP from Highway 130 for local residential deliveries and to serve commercial development within HPP.
Busway
A guided busway provides the operating features of grade-separated rail systems using lower-cost, more flexible bus-transit technologies, and allows the passenger to use just one mode of transport for an entire trip.
Where busways have been used, the result has been increased bus ridership, reduced delays to buses, reduced peak bus journey times and reduced peak traffic flows.
A guided busway has off-road fixed tracks, consisting of concrete troughs. Buses travel along a concrete track and can enter and exit normal roads and the busway at multiple points. Small wheels are fitted near the front of the bus. These wheels run along guides on either side of the track, with the effect of assisting steering of the bus.
A single-lane busway allows bus traffic in both directions at the same time, with buses passing at designated locations (e.g., HPP).
Scenic Parkway (Ala Puna Makai)
Features
1. Macadamia Road to HPP north and HPP south to Keonepoko
2. Restricted access (Keonepoko, HPP south, HPP north, Macadamia Road)
3. Scenic, with context-sensitive design, green infrastructure, green buffers, etc.
4. Multi-modal (cars and motorcycles; buses)
5. Align at 25th, 15th, and 5th in HPP
6.Multiple (#8804;45mph) routes across HPP
7. Two lanes each way for licensed passenger motor vehicles (cars and motorcycles)
8. North bound car and motorcycle traffic enter/exit HPP at 5th
9. South bound car and motorcycle traffic enter/exit HPP at 25th
10. Single-lane busway aligned at HPP 15th
Functions
1.Provide an alternate route between Puna and Hilo
2.Relieve a major portion of Highway 130 congestion: daily, non-truck, peak traffic from HPP.
3.Provide adequate capacity for daily, non-truck, peak traffic between Keonepoko and South Hilo.
4.Disperse traffic in HPP.
5.Align with areas in HPP designated for village center use (recreation, education, commerce, light industry).
6.Serve as an emergency evacuation route from Keonepoko and HPP.
7.Establish public transit as a viable mobility choice for daily peak and non-peak travel between Hilo and Puna.
8.Complement a proposed bikeway/walkway along Railroad Avenue.
9.Contribute to green infrastructure.
10.Preclude sprawl.
James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park